Objective To study the relationship between executive function and glial cell line-de-rived neurotrophic factor(GDNF) in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD). Methods Totally 64 patients with OCD and 61 healthy controls were enrolled. The levels of serum GDNF were measured by en-zyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST) was used to assess the ex-ecutive function of the subjects. Yale-Brown obsessive compulsive scale ( Y-BOCS) was used to assess ob-sessive-compulsive symptoms. Results The patients with OCD(62. 67±8. 48)showed significantly poorer performance than healthy controls on the correct score of WCST(71. 16±7. 24)(P<0. 05),but the errors and non-persistent errors scores(52. 81±8. 39,31. 05±8. 46)were significantly higher than that in healthy con-trols (44. 79±7. 69,26. 57±7. 76)(P<0. 05). The level of serum GDNF in OCD group ((5. 64±1. 01) pg/ml)was significantly lower than that in control group ((6. 99±0. 94) pg/ml). There was a negative cor-relation between the number of non-persistent errors and the level of GDNF in OCD group( r=-0. 304,P=0. 015). The correct number and classification of WCST were negatively correlated with the scores of Y-BOCS(t=-0. 546,-0. 758,P<0. 05),the error of WCST were positively correlated to the scores of Y-BOCS(t=0. 616,P<0. 05). Conclusion These findings suggest that patients with OCD have executive dysfunction. The level of GDNF may be involved in the pathogenesis of OCD,which may be associated with the executive dysfunction in OCD patients.

Carboxyl-terminal processing protease of D1 protein (CtpA) catalyzes carboxyl terminal processing of the D1 protein of photosystem II, which is essential for the assembly of a manganese cluster and consequent light-mediated water oxidation. It is a target for the discovery of wide-spectrum herbicide. We amplified the CtpA gene from spinach cDNA with standard PCR method and constructed it into pET-28a vector to generate a recombinant expression plasmid. Recombinant CtpA fusion protein with His-tag was expressed as soluble protein in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) after induction with 0.1 mmol/L IPTG at 8 degrees C for 72 h. We purified the CtpA protein with the Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and Superdex 75 gel filtration chromatography respectively, and verified the protein by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting with anti-his antibody. Hydrolysis activity of CtpA was assayed by HPLC method with a synthetic 24-mer oligopeptide corresponding to carboxyl terminal of precursor D1 protein, and gave a total activity of 1.10 nmol/(mg x min). We used the purified CtpA protein as antigen to immune rabbit for the production of polyclonal antibody, and prepared antibody with high specificity and sensitivity. The results obtained in this paper provided the feasibility of high-throughput screening of lead compounds for the protease as inhibitors and mechanism analysis of CtpA enzyme.
Algal Proteins ; Antibodies ; metabolism ; Carboxypeptidases ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; genetics ; immunology ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hydrolysis ; Proprotein Convertases ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; genetics ; immunology ; RNA, Plant ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Spinacia oleracea ; enzymology ; genetics

The main clinical phenotypes, imaging features and genetic test results of a child with Joubert syndrome treated in Shenzhen Children′s Hospital in July 2020 were analyzed retrospectively, and the literature on Joubert syndrome was summarized.The main manifestations of the protester during infancy were respiratory abnormalities and developmental retardation.The brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a " molar sign" , which was consistent with the diagnosis of Joubert syndrome.Genetic testing suggested that the protestor carried complex heterozygous variations of KIAA0586 gene.Two variants were not reported previously, one of which was synonymous mutation.The child is the first case of Joubert syndrome caused by KIAA0586 gene in China.Joubert syndrome is a rare congenital brain development malformation characterized by high clinical heterogeneity and MRI molar signs.It may involve multiple systems.Early identification and intervention can improve outcomes.